The Frog and Cricket Cabaret Night

 

Deep hums emulate from beneath

the fringe of the shrubs as the sky

fades to orange to pink, purple,

 

black. Drizzle mingles with splashes

from rippled puddles and pools, steams

to a boil. Kids in raincoats

 

and large red boots stomp in the dark,

across gravel, through water,

under leaves. Jars filled with lightning

 

bugs light their way, makeshift flashlights.

In their other hand, empty

jars, ready to catch the hums.

 

Giggles become shushed as creatures

leap back into the night, followed

by excited feet. They hide

 

beneath the corn stalks and fallen

tomatoes. The dirt becomes trampled

mud, ripe for tomorrow night.